“Yup,” he replied, heading toward the front door. “Whisk me away in your chariot.”
They ended up parking over four blocks away from the club. Apparently, word had spread quickly of Dimefront’s impromptu gig. Dozens of paparazzi hung out on the sidewalk in front of the expansive nightclub. The corded line to get inside wrapped all the way around the building.
People spilled into the alley and lounged on curbs while police lights flashed nearby. Velma’s stomach twisted itself into knots. How would she ever find Brek in this mess?
“Well, this is a cluster.” Jase zipped up his windbreaker jacket with The Flower Pot’s company logo across the back.
“We could try reasoning with the bouncer.” Velma nodded toward the hulky guy with the buzz cut standing guard at the entrance.
Jase squinted at the crowd that grew by the second. “Or you could flash your tits. That might work better.”
Velma’s cheeks burned. She refused to look at Jase. “This isn’t Mardi Gras.”
“Ahh…but it could be. See? I wouldn’t even peek at yours, because they belong to my buddy and that would be wrong.” He gave her a look like he was teaching a really important first-grade lesson. “The key is, you’ll start a trend. It’ll be like a wave at a stadium, but way better.”
“I can see why you and Brek are friends.” She refused to acknowledge his suggestion with anything more. Instead, she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. “I’m going in.”
“Right behind you,” Jase said, gesturing ahead of them.
Before her nerves took over, she looked both ways and hustled across the street. She stepped onto the curb and headed straight for the door, marching right up to the muscled bouncer, chin held high.
“Sorry, miss,” the deep baritone of the huge guy’s voice washed over her. “Line’s the other way.”
“Hi.” She nodded at him.Be brave.
“Hi,” he replied, his face a stone mask.
She raised her hands in front of her. “You probably think I’m here trying to meet that band.”
“Probably.” His expression didn’t change.
Ugh. He didn’t get it.
“I’m not. I assure you that I don’t even like their music. Seriously, it’s all overly loud nonsense and cussing.”
That cracked the mask. Bouncer dude squinted toward her.
“No, I’m looking for my boyfriend,” she continued. “He manages Dimefront. Brek? You probably know him. His sister’s having a baby, and he needs to go meet his nephew. So, I’m just going to sneak in, find him, tell him, and leave.” She nodded and moved to get past, reaching for the handle of the door.
“You’re Brek’s girlfriend?” He shifted to step in front of her.
“Yes.”
He looked her over top to bottom. “Not how this works. Nice story, though.”
“Hey, bitch? Get in line like the rest of us,” a teased-up groupie shouted from behind the velvet rope.
Velma ignored her and tried once more. “Please.”
“Please?” he asked. “So polite. Hang on. Hey, Jack?”
Another even hulkier guy ducked out from a stool near the doorway. Velma moved her head up, up, and up to meet his eyes.
“Seems this lady needs to find Brek because he needs to go meet his nephew. She said ‘please.’ You want to handle this for me?” Mr. Bouncer said.
Was she mistaken or did he flex his arm muscles? Whether he did or he didn’t, they rippled under his formfitting black Henley.
“His sister’s having the baby right now,” Velma added to drive her point home.
